With the first week of spring finally upon is, it’s time to consider how to spend all of those vacation days you racked up over winter! If you’re like us, you’re planning your escape to an exotic, tropical destination where the days are hot and the drinks are cold.  It’s time to dust off your suitcase, slide on your sandals and hit the road for some serious fun in the sun.  Before saying goodbye to the snowpocalypse, say hello to these travel essentials before boarding the next plane out of Dodge.

Bold-colored bags never go out of style, and for trendy travelers it’s all about standing out among the crowd.  Take this textured Helmer JoJo Traveler tote on your next trip as an all-purpose carry-on, with enough space for all of your travel essentials. It even includes a detachable clutch, making this a perfect day to night look once you’ve landed in paradise.

Natural stones and organic materials embody the stunning Khalama collection of jewelry created by designer Gabriela Emma Olivera in Miami, Florida. Combining the natural world with the spiritual, Khalama – a Tibetan expression meaning ‘sky path’ – boasts striking patterns filled with Far Eastern symbolism including Buddha, the lord Ganesh, koi fish and lotus flowers. This stunning line of hand-crafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings will add an extra layer of style and spirituality to your travels.

Scrambling for your ID and credit cards while traveling is a rookie move! Keep your essentials all together with a cellphone case that doubles as a wallet! Available in a rainbow of colors for all the latest smart phones, EYN waterproof cases include extra features such as a kickstand, wrist strap and mirror. It’s no wonder EYN stands for “Everything You Need.” This, ladies, is the new definition of traveling light.

Smart technology has come a long way in recent years, and taking it with you when you travel has never been easier. Example A: the Cogito POP watch. This versatile timepiece exemplifies the latest generation of smart watches, combining fun with functionality. Cogito watches links to your cell with an easy-to-use interface that connects you to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all call functions on your phone, including text and voice messages. It means you’ll never miss out on what’s happening in your social sphere no matter where life takes you. It even tracks your fitness – which on vacation usually consists of lifting cocktail glasses rather than weights. We’ll stick with the social media functions, thanks.

It’s easy to fall victim to the abundance of airport junk food when hunger comes creeping in. Think ahead and be prepared with a healthy alternative when snacking on-the-go with Crispy Fruit from Crispy Green. With 100% pure fruit freeze-dried to perfection, this simple solution to sensible snacking is the perfect option for women who like to keep their waistline in check while traveling. Available in a wide variety of flavors including tangerine, apple, Asian pear, banana, cantaloupe, mango and pineapple, Crispy Fruit comes packaged in individual, single-serving packets for no-mess nibblers. Find it in your local supermarket or click the image below to shop online.

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Maybe all you can manage this spring break is a long weekend.  Here are some city getaways that are guaranteed to please, even if you have just a few days.  For more Spring Getaway ideas, check out Taking the Kid’s Super Spring Break section!   

FORT WORTH, TX brings Cowboy lore to life with weekly cattle roundups, Stockyard tours and Western art museums., BuffaloBill’s Wild West Show at Cowtown Coliseum and  even the Fort Worth Herd’s free Cow Camp  See what we said about our visit here.  

WASHINGTON, DC  where The National Cherry Blossom Festival starts and lasts until April 13 and even includes a special Blossom Kite Festival.  There are plenty of  freebies (or nearly free)  like  seeing  the stars in Rock Creek Park at the only planetarium operated by the National Park Service, touring the National Mall and the Smithsonian’s many museums.  My Kids Guide to Washington DC can help the kids lead the way.  

MONTREAL is a great place to give the kids a bonafide foreign experience without crossing the ocean. They can practice their French, eat crepes, hit a museum including Montreal’s Space for Life, Canada’s largest natural science museum with a botanical garden, insectarium, and new Planetarium. Everyone loves Mount Royal-right in the middle of the city and the Sun Life Olympic Park Esplanade which has been certified a “Children friendly Institution by local parents.  Skateboarders especially like the Big “O” a concrete tunnel built for the 1976 summer Olympics that now is considered a top place in the world for skateboarders.  

SAN FRANCISCO with its cable cars that kids liken to a “roller coaster on the street “, honking sea lions at Pier 39, the biggest Chinatown outside of Asia,  California Academy of Sciences with its “living” roof and new Exploratorium on the waterfront that may be one of the coolest science museums anywhere. Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge or encourage the kids to try some new dishes in this foodie mecca.

BOSTON Here’s your chance to see a baseball game in the oldest major league stadium still in use-historic Fenway Park, if you can get tickets to see the Champion Red Sox play.  We love Boston because it’s so easy to time travel back to the 18th century on the Freedom Trail and back to the 21st at guaranteed -to-please hands-on museums like the New England Aquarium, the Children’s Museum of Boston, the  Boston Museum of Science  and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts with its many family art workshops. 

Let the kids lead the way!   

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